Canada
Build Canada Memo Calls Trump’s H-1B Fee a Historic Opportunity for Canada: On September 19, 2025, the U.S. government announced the most sweeping change to the H-1B visa program in decades. President Donald Trump introduced a $100,000 fee for every new H-1B application, a move that instantly reshaped the global competition for high-skilled professionals.
In response, Build Canada, a coalition led by Martin Basiri, Founder & CEO of Passage, issued a memo warning of risks while urging the Canadian government to seize a historic opportunity. The memo was supported by leading Canadian innovators and investors including Brice Scheschuk, Josh Domingues, Lucy Hargreaves, Farhan Thawar, Aidan Tracey, Daniel Debow, Richard Abboud, Mike McCauley, Som Seif, and Michael Litt.
Risks for Canada
Without swift action, U.S. companies could sidestep the H-1B fee by targeting Canadian engineers, scientists, and healthcare professionals through the TN visa program. This would threaten Canada’s tech sector, drain tax revenues, and deepen shortages in critical industries like healthcare, where nearly 100,000 positions remain unfilled.
A Window of Opportunity
At the same time, the new policy opens the door for Canada to attract top global talent. Hundreds of thousands of H-1B professionals, many earning over C$200,000 annually and graduating from top universities like MIT, Stanford, IIT, and Tsinghua, are now reconsidering their futures.
As the memo highlights, Canada offers unique advantages: proximity to the U.S., similar time zones, high quality of life, shared cultural values, and a reputation for welcoming immigrants. If Canada attracts even 120,000 H-1B workers, the result could add C$30 billion to GDP, creating jobs and long-term economic growth.
Proposed Solutions
To capitalize on this opportunity, the memo proposes two key actions:
- H-1B Worker Closed Work Permit – Allow U.S. H-1B holders to live in Canada while continuing employment with U.S. firms. Applicants would require a minimum salary of US$140,000 (C$200,000) and a three-year employment contract. This approach mirrors the 2023 H-1B Open Work Permit but restricts it to U.S. companies, ensuring economic benefit without displacing Canadian workers.
- Global Top-100 University Express Track – Award 50 additional Express Entry points to graduates from elite institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT, IIT, and Tsinghua. This measure targets the same talent pipeline that produced leaders like Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Elon Musk.
Why Action Is Urgent
The U.S. policy aims to push employers toward hiring Americans. However, shortages in advanced technology and healthcare mean demand far outstrips domestic supply. Without intervention, American firms may aggressively recruit Canadians, worsening Canada’s talent drain.
By moving quickly, Canada can transform this threat into the biggest talent acquisition opportunity in national history. Bold immigration policies could protect Canadian workers while attracting the brightest minds from around the world.
The Build Canada memo makes it clear: the new H-1B visa fee is both a risk and an opportunity. If Canada acts decisively, it can strengthen its tech ecosystem, support healthcare, and generate billions in economic growth. If not, it risks losing both foreign and domestic talent to the United States.
